The
VU Department of Geography and Meteorology offers a comprehensive
undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree
with a major in meteorology. Enrollment in the meteorology
program has doubled in the last five years to approximately
110 students, making it one of the largest in the country.
Students from our program go on to attend the nation's top
graduate programs and are employed by various public and
private sector firms and broadcast stations. A large number
of our students have received NASA summer fellowships, National
Science Foundation, American Meteorological Society and
university undergraduate and graduate fellowships.
Valparaiso's
location offers a wide variety of interesting and challenging
weather, from lake-effect snows to severe convective storms.
The Department maintains the VU Weather Center, a state-of-the-art
laboratory where students gain "hands-on" experience and
provide weather information and forescasts for Northwest
Indiana. This facility has an excellent array of meteorological
equipment, including a 55-foot instrumented tower, UNIDATA
McIDAS and GEMPAK data retrieval and display systems, Meteorologix
and WeatherTap NWS Doppler radar, satellite and data feeds,
as well as portable sensors and computers.
Extracurricular
experiences are important components of the meteorology
program at VU. Our popular 10-day severe storm field study
trips to the Southern Plains are an integral part of the
educational experience for meteorology students. The Department
has established an excellent relationship with the National
Weather Service (NWS). Our program has placed students in
internships at NWS offices in Indianapolis, Louisville,
South Bend, and St. Louis. Paid co-ops have been established
with the Climate Analysis Center and Techniques Development
Laboratory in Washington, D.C. and the NWS Forecast Office
in Romeoville (Chicago), IL. Internships are also established
with a regional educational channel, WGN-TV in Chicago,
and other broadcast stations. Students may also work for
the campus radio station, WVUR. These positions provide
students with valuable experience as well as opportunities
for post-graduate employment.
Many
students are active members of Northwest Indiana SKYWARN
and the Valparaiso University Storm Intercept Team (VUSIT),
one of the nation's best-equipped chase teams. A regional
chapter of the National Weather Association is also located
on campus which, together with the Department, promotes
visits by prominent outside scientists, and hosts a Great
Lakes Meteorology Conference each spring.
"The
teaching style of VU's Meteorology program ensures that
students understand the physics of the atmosphere as well
as mathematical foundations of meteorology. The result is
a student who is fluent in theory, able in forecasting,
and well-practiced at leading and participating in discussion
about the science. The department fosters an environment
of collaboration and close relationship between students
and faculty. Valparaiso Meteorology graduates are, in my
experience, among the best prepared in the field to excel
in the discipline of atmospheric science."
Matt
Parker
VU Class of 1996
Assistant Professor, North Carolina State
The
Weather
Additions
and corrections for this page may be directed to Jon
T. Kilpinen